Louisiana Tech University will hold its winter commencement ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Thomas Assembly Center. Jim Purcell, Louisiana’s commissioner of higher education, will serve as keynote speaker.
Purcell supervises the operations of the Board of Regents and represents the state’s post-secondary education community at the local, state and national levels. In his position, he also will implement the Granting Resources and Autonomy for Diplomas (GRAD) Act as well as the Performance-Based Funding Formula.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

Nick Letendre, one of the key returnees from last year’s Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 4A state tournament team, will be pitching for Ruston High at the annual Trey Altick Louisiana Prep Classic that begins today. The Bearcats and Cedar Creek are among the 10 schools hosting the three-day tournament. See more on page 7.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

The D’Arbonne Lake Watershed Commission held its monthly meeting last week, with reports being given on the lake alternative spillway addition and the 2012 lake drawdown project.
Commission President Noel James said that while recent weather has slowed the alternative spillway project, that delay is not expected to affect the timeline for completing the project.
“We’ve had a lot of rain that’s slowed things down,” James said. “But there was good progress made before the weather started and it looks like things are still on track to get things completed on time.”

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

Sports center enters final phases of construction; set to open April 2

Whether for running, swimming, climbing or lounging pool side, Louisiana Tech’s Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center will be available with updates beginning April 2.
The newest addition to Lambright is entering the final phases of a lengthy construction project.
Lambright has served as a place for Tech students and the people of Ruston to get fit and strive for a healthy lifestyle since opening in 1981.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

The Ruston Raising Cane’s Restaurant raised $271.53 for 4 Paws.
Furry friends across the country are enjoying some holiday cheer well after the decorations have been put away thanks to a pet-loving chicken finger chain and its customers.
Raising Cane’s announced its annual Raising Cane’s Holiday Plush Puppy campaign raised more than $20,000 for animal welfare this past year.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

Her name is Lola. She is a … sea turtle?
Why, yes, she is.
Senior Ruston High School students in Amy Guerin’s marine science class last year created a replica of a sea turtle, named Lola that was recently donated to Louisiana Tech’s IDEA Place to help students who come through their doors learn more about conservation.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

Kindergarten news
The kindergarteners at Choudrant were very busy during the month of February. We celebrated our 100th day of school with many fun activities. We made 100th Day posters with 100 items and shared them with our classmates.
We made 100th Day crowns to wear throughout the day, 100th Day necklaces made with Fruit Loops and we made our snack with 100 yummy snacks.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

Open house set
Lisa Bastion, principal at Choudrant High School, is pleased to announce an open house from 2-4 p.m. April 15. The new construction and renovation of our facilities is nearing completion; most teachers have moved out of portable buildings into the new building adjacent to the original structure and into the new ag building behind the school. The auditorium is being renovated, and the cafeteria has been enlarged. The original building and outside areas have received a facelift, and the grounds are being improved as construction materials are removed.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

Today marks the beginning of Women’s History Month.
The national recognition is intended to pay tribute to generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society.
Opportunities for women have come a long way in our country over the last couple of centuries.
It was not until 1920 — fewer than 100 years ago — that women in the U.S. were granted the right to vote through the 19th amendment.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.

Some people rely on their banks to tell them when they have spent too much, or if they have a little extra as a result of rewards. For me, I am one of those people always trying to save money. My children notoriously ask me, “Mom, give me some money for this or that?” If I feel like it is something they “need,” then I find the way to make the purchase. It may not be that day, but it comes. As for the children, they ask for it. If I tell them it is rather expensive, and that item is not a necessity, then I tell them “no.” They then go through the begging and pleading stage. It then comes to the question, “Mom, do you not have it, or do you have it in your rat-hole money?” I am not a mean parent, but I try to buy things based on a rewards system.” I watched people and asked others this week “How do you save money when you shop?” What I got was both ways to save money normally and not so normal ways to save money.

Full text of this article is available to subscribers only. Login if you are already a subscriber. If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe to the online version here.